We check in with people at each stage of the cash transfer process to see how things are going. Take a look at some of their stories as they appear here in real-time.
Learn more about how recipients opt in to share their stories.
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3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($335 USD)
access_time 4 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Now that me and my husband are old and can't do tough work anymore, I used my second payment to fence our small garden. I want to grow vegetables there so we don't have to buy them from the shop. I also want to take good care of our animals by treating them and giving them a nice place to live. When I do this, I believe our life will get better. I'm grateful to Givedirectly for helping me reach my goals in life.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I first heard about Givedirectly from my neighbors, who said the money came from bad places. But I said I'd take the cash without hesitation because I have lots of problems and bills to pay. I was super happy when I got the money because it meant I could pay some bills. I felt blessed by God because if the money wasn't good, God wouldn't have let the company grow like this. When you go to other villages, keep helping people and tell them to use the money wisely, especially the youth who can do a lot with their energy unlike us older people.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my last bit of money, $400, to build an extra room in my house. I did this because I wanted a place for my children to sleep when they visit. Me and my husband are old, and we wanted to make sure they have a comfortable space. We didn't have a proper toilet, so I used some old iron sheets to build a pit latrine. It's safer than going in the bushes. It's just me and my husband now, as our children are all grown up and married. With the leftover $50, I bought food. Usually, we rely on food our children bring us, and we also sell our goats to cover other expenses. Taking care of our goats is our main job, and we're grateful for it. Feel appreciated for your support.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($295 USD)
access_time 8 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In the coming year and beyond, my primary goal is to expand my goat farming venture by acquiring more goats. This endeavor is crucial for ensuring a sustainable source of income, especially during the challenging drought seasons. With the upcoming third transfer, I intend to invest in purchasing additional goats to bolster our herd. The support we have received has been instrumental in bringing about a transformative change in our lives, and I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to pursue this goal.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The support extended by GiveDirectly has not only significantly improved our quality of life but has also brought about a profound and positive transformation. The program's unconditional approach allowed us the flexibility to allocate the funds according to our specific needs, providing a sense of empowerment. We are immensely grateful for the constructive influence this support has had on our lives. From my personal perspective, I have not identified any shortcomings in the program's implementation, and we look forward to the continued positive impact on our well-being.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Fencing our land has been a top priority for me, as I aimed to secure my property boundaries and provide a safe grazing area for our goats. Currently, my husband and I reside together since our children have all grown. Upon receiving our transfer, we decided to spend the funds towards fencing our land. We used $400 to purchase chainlink and nails for the fencing project. Although the task is not yet complete, I am optimistic that we will achieve this goal in the near future. Additionally, I saved the remaining $50 for future needs. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to demarcate our land, ensuring protection for our property and preventing unwanted intruders. This initiative brings a sense of security and fulfillment to our household.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($137 USD)
access_time 11 months ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I felt so very happy at that particular moment. It meant quite a lot to me and my family at that particular time. I heard from other neighbours who had received their share and i immediately called my son who came and helped me in withdrawing the money. I felt happy that i was finally going to put up a fence that will then allow me to plant crops within my compound and solve the perennial lack of it. Rains have been very evasive over here making things quite hard for all of us.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is from the things that i jave been able to accomplish. I always wanted to put up a good fence in my compund that would then allow me to accomplish much more bigger things but i did not have the might, the strength to do this. The little that I got from my rope selling business was hardly enough to make ends meet. I will forever be grateful for the money that i received and for what it has done for me and my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used $80 to purchase pieces of chain links to be used in putting up a fence in my compund. I then used another $30 to purchase building posts that will help me with the compound. The remaining amount of $90 was used to buy food for my family as we were facing an acute shortage at that time. I am so glad that the money came at a time that i needed it the most and in time to help me accomplish the things I have always wanted to accomplish. I always rely on income from rope making and selling which provides me with hardly enough to make ends meet. I have been getting assistance from my children as well who relies on casual jobs to make ends meet. I am eternally grateful for receiving this transfer from GiveDirectly as it has cushioned me a great deal
Enrolled
access_time 1 year ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
The cash transfers have come at an opportune time when I need it the most. At the moment there are no rains and whenever it rains it's not enough for us to plant and harvest. This has led to a lack of food. I have a great plan of purchasing enough food to take me for months up to the end of the year. I plan to purchase a bag of maize, some beans, Ground nuts, and other household needs such as cooking oil and sugar. I intend to use about $150 of the transfers to accomplish this. In addition to this, I plan to fence my farm. This is because livestock such as goats and cows have been disturbing me and I cannot even plant vegetables. With the transfers, I plan to use $450 of the transfers to accomplish this. For the remaining transfers, I plan to save them for the future so that I can purchase food and other needs that will arise. I'm very grateful to GiveDirectly for the assistance they have brought us. This will improve my life positively.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In my daily life, I draw my happiness from God. I'm grateful to God that I'm the age that I'm at the moment and I thank him for my health and my family. This pleases me so much.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My life is full of challenges because of my old age. However, the most pressing challenge I'm facing at the moment that is making my life harder is the lack of food. We have not had enough rains in the past three years which has led to the unproductivity of our farms. I have been forced to depend on food from the market which is quite expensive. Even though my children struggle to purchase food for me it might not be enough to feed me and my husband for many weeks. This has affected me psychologically since I feel if it were not for my age I would fend and provide for my family. At the moment I have to skip some meals which is very difficult.
